[Squeakland] Re: Squeaking Homeschoolers?

[Kim Rose]

Hi, Gary -

Sounds to me like you are using the "Squeak.org" image/download as 
opposed to what one gets when they do the download from 
"Squeakland.org"....(the "Worlds of Squeak" projects come as part of 
the "Squeak.org" download.)  While these are not really geared to 
users of your daughter's age, it sounds like she still had some fun.

The kids we work with, using the "Squeakland" image, are encouraged 
to save (publish) their projects (they get saved as a .pr file) and 
then load them in again to view/play again/change/share.  This way, 
the image is always "fresh/pristine" and never gets saved....the 
"project" is the unit to be saved.

I'd encourge the two of you to look at the "Kids Play" section of the 
Squeakland site,
http://www.squeakland.org/kids/kidshome.html
to see and explore more "kid-created" projects.

You might also explore this site:
http://www.pcs.cnu.edu/%7Ercaton/SqIndex/squeakindex.html
for some wonderful Squeak/Etoy projects created by our colleague, 
Randall Caton, at NASA.
Thanks for the feedback -- feel free to send more as you continue to explore!
regards,
Kim




>Howdy,
>
>I showed her how to start Squeak and how to run the tutorials I got from
>   http://www.squeakland.org/author/etoys.html#tutorials
>
>I asked her to play with the car example in "The World of Squeak: 
>Scripts". She did the tutorials, played with the script example and 
>then looked around. She modified the example, replacing the car with 
>something that looks more like a LEGO RCX. She added some of the 
>widgets to the track and set it to go around the track by moving 
>forward then turning. She then looked at some of the other examples 
>in "The World of Squeak". She ended up playing with the music 
>examples, modifying some midi files.
>
>She thinks Squeak is worth using more. She said it was confusing at 
>first and would have liked to have some help as she was getting 
>going.
>
>She felt uncomfortable with saving the image at first, wondering if 
>she would break something when she saved.
>
>She had some trouble when she was working with her image. We may get 
>back with details. She found drawing to be comparable to using the 
>Paint program on Windows.
>
>I asked her to start using Squeak to get a feel for what it is like 
>to start Squeaking around without much input. We will work with the 
>kids when we introduce them, giving them support where needed. I'll 
>get back with anything that seems worth saying as I show kids.
>
>Gary
>
>
>Kim Rose wrote:
>
>>Hi, Gary -
>>We'll be interested to learn more about your daughter's experiences 
>>and thoughts!
>>thanks,
>>Kim
>>
>>
>>t 8:55 AM -0600 3/22/04, Gary Frederick wrote:
>>
>>>I'm looking over some of the recent messages and came across this one.
>>>
>>>I'll be showing homeschoolers Squeak and seeing where they take it 
>>>over the next little bit. We are working on software that helps 
>>>you learn to program. I'm thinking of showing one of our classes 
>>>Squeak today and another Wednesday. The classes are very small 
>>>(5-6 kids) and the average age is 12. One is all homeschoolers and 
>>>another is not.
>>>
>>>>The first aims for the Squeak etoys were at what we called 
>>>>"lapware" (a parent with a child on their lap). And we have been 
>>>>wanting to do a major push for homeschoolers for quite a few 
>>>>years.
>>>
>>>
>>>I remember our daughter setting on my lap drawing flowers and 
>>>other shapes with LOGO. Several years later we were looking at 
>>>Toontalk and remember the fantastic feeling I got as she was 
>>>'aha'ing the messaging between processes. She played with some of 
>>>the etoys yeserday and I look forward to seeing what she came up 
>>>with. (She is way bigger than lap size now :-)
>>>
>>>Gary
>>>
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